Proper handwashing can be a matter of good health - your skin is a barrier between you and bacteria and viruses, but sometimes your skin needs some help.  Like when your hands are dirty.  You might not always be able to see this contamination - like after you go to the bathroom - but it's there!  So wash it away.
Your skin protects the body from exposure to harmful irritants and potentially disease causing organisms. Damage to the skin (ex: dry skin, cracking, etc.) compromises this barrier function.   Cold weather, low humidity, age, dietary deficiencies, some medications, some medical conditions, frequent handwashing, and exposure to harsh products and chemicals contribute to dry skin.

Effective handwashing includes several components:

1. Use mild soap - liquid or foam - for most routine handwashing. Soap suspends soil and germs, which then can easily be rinsed off.
2. Antimicrobial handwashing products kill microorganisms or inhibit their growth and are required after contact with blood or body fluids.  There are some studies that show the routine use of antimicrobial soaps can help reduce the number of colds and the flu you experience each year.  Don't worry about making "super bugs" - viruses and bacteria do not become resistant to cleaning agents and soap.
3. Wet hands first, putting a “barrier” between your skin and the soap & making lathering easier.
4. Use tepid water.  Hot water opens pores and removes oils from your skin.
5. Vigorously rub together all surfaces of lathered hands for 10 to 15 seconds.  Friction helps remove dirt and bacteria and viruses that may make you (or someone else) sick.
6. Wash around and under rings, under fingernails, and include wrists. Keep splashes to a minimum and try not to touch the sink itself.
   Rinse hands thoroughly under a stream of water.  Running water carries away dirt and debris. Point fingers down so water and contaminants don't drip toward elbows.
7. Pat hand dry completely with a clean, dry paper towel.  Rubbing removes skin!
8. Discard paper towel in a waste container.
9. Use hand lotion to prevent dry skin.  This is especially important in the cold months where chapped hands can provide an open route for bacteria to bypass your skin's protective barrier.
10. Wear protective gloves when using harsh cleaning chemicals to protect your skin.  Or do away with harsh chemicals and clean with some "green chemicals".  Like vingear.

Ways to help prevent the development of dry skin include:

1. Wearing gloves to protect your skin when it is cold.  Wear sunscreen to prevent sundamage to the hand's barrier.
2. Washing with warm, not hot, water.
3. Patting skin dry rather than rubbing.
4. Wearing protective gloves when cleaning or harsh handling chemicals.
5. Using skin care products that are mild, PH balanced, and dermatologist tested.  Use a lotion with a sunscreen already added.
6. Applying appropriate moisturizers often, preferably when the skin is damp (right after washing).

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